MP seeking answers as construction work on new Middlesbrough nursing home halted

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Luke Myer has confirmed he is seeking assurances over the future of a 72 bedroom nursing home after work on the project was halted.

Torsion Care Ltd was granted planning permission in August last year by Middlesbrough Council for the new home on land off Cropton Way, in Coulby Newham.

The company is part of the same Leeds-based group of companies as Torsion Construction Ltd, which ceased trading over the summer and subsequently entered administration.

Mr Myer said “residents were entitled to know what would now happen to such a prominent, partially completed site”.

In correspondence with a concerned local resident, Mr Myer explained he had written to Middlesbrough Council, as the local planning authority, asking it for a “clear update”.

He also said he was attempting to find out how long the site was expected to remain in its present condition and how any development would be financed and delivered.

A previous statement issued in July by parent company Torsion Group, which explained the circumstances surrounding the administration, said: “Over the past two years, Torsion Construction experienced rising costs, reduced construction activity, delays to significant capital events and a number of major commercial challenges.

“The introduction of direct payment arrangements on several projects successfully protected clients, maintained project delivery and safeguarded payments to many supply chain partners, but significantly reduced the working capital available to the construction business.

“Despite extensive efforts to secure a sustainable solution, administration became the only viable option.

“This process relates solely to Torsion Construction Limited.

“All other Torsion businesses, including Torsion Care, Torsion Projects, Torsion Homes, Torsion Developments, continue to operate as normal and remain focused on delivering for their clients, customers, investors and funding partners.”

Meanwhile, a Companies House filing by administrators Interpath earlier this month setting out its proposals for the process to follow listed hundreds of creditors/claimants said to be owed more than £22m in total.

It said 115 staff had been made redundant and referred to customers of Torsion Construction intending to take control of ten live construction sites the company had contracts for, with temporary security measures being put in place.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Torsion Group and the council for comment.

When a reporter visited the Cropton Way development, which is close to the Coulby Newham Tesco Extra superstore, no activity was visible with the site fenced off.

A huge crane towered over the land with steel structures forming the skeleton of the new building visible, while hoardings had signs on them referring to ‘Torsion Projects’.

A man parked at the entrance to the site, who did not give his name, said work was ordered to stop two weeks ago.

A planning statement previously submitted on behalf of Torsion Care Ltd when the nursing home plans were submitted described how the proposal would deliver a “sustainable, high-quality care home”, with a variety of internal and external amenities for residents.

It said there would be “wider benefits” for the local economy, including as many as 50 full-time and 25 part-time jobs.

Twenty five car parking spaces are also planned on what is undeveloped land measuring just over a third of a hectare.

Council records show that several conditions attached to the planning permission have been successfully discharged over the past year in order that work can progress, the latest being agreed by the council in July.